Michaelia Cash screaming in Parliament1:08

LNP Senator for Western Australia launches a vicious rant against the Labor Party. June 28, 2013

September 17th 2013

4 years ago

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FEISTY and firm: these are the five women who didn't make it into Tony Abbott's Cabinet, but who may eventually make it through, given their determined natures and confidence in their own convictions.

After a barrage of criticism was heaped upon the new prime minister for including only one woman - the new Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop - in his Cabinet team, Abbott said there were "some very good and talented women knocking on the door" of Cabinet.

News.com.au looks at the women queuing up for a posting, should any member of the new Government's elite stumble or fail.

In a debate about legislation on childcare worker payments, Ms Cash - then Opposition spokeswoman for women - said the Rudd Government had tricked workers into believing a pay rise was coming.

"The current Rudd Government, who we all know Senator Wong voted for," she said.

"The sisterhood stabbing one of their own in the back."

Ms Cash made stabbing and crushing motions with her long red fingernails and denounced Ms Wong as part of a sisterhood "drinking from the chalice of blood".

"You've always got to like that, don't you? When the sisterhood stab one of their own in the back."

ageing sectorSource:News Limited

Concetta "Connie" Fierravanti-Wells - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services.

Active in the Australian Italian community and a fervent pro-monarchist, Fierrevanti-Wells was a senior government lawyer and ministerial adviser before entering the Senate in 2005.

The 53-year-old is a member of the hard line right-wing faction in the NSW division of the Liberal Party and has worked at both state and federal levels.

Fierrevanti-Wells allegedly missed out on a Cabinet spot as demotion for her role in sponsoring the hapless Greenway candidate Jaymes Diaz, against Mr Abbott's wishes.

She made her mark on television with a spirited defence of Abbott in an edition of ABC-TV's Q&A following the March 2011 NSW state election "massacre" by the Coalition of Labor.

Asked repeatedly about Tony Abbott's controversial appearance at an anti-carbon tax rally among placards which read "Juliar: Bob Browns Bitch'' and "Ditch the Witch'', Fierrevanti-Wells said it was all fair comment for politicians.

"If you are going to get upset because somebody's called you something nasty ... the reality is we are in political life," she said.

"When you have lied to people you shouldn't get upset because somebody calls you a liar.

"In political life ... a friend of mine always says, 'old roads for hard dogs and footpaths for puppies'."

nationalsSource:News Limited

Fiona Nash - Assistant Minister for Health and Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate

A Sydney-born Bachelor of Arts Graduate, Fiona Nash, 48, identifies with the country issues of her party, the Nationals, but also possesses the courage of her convictions.

In her eight years in the Senate, Nash has shown no hesitation in standing up for what she believes in.

In 2006, she made a conscience vote against the abortion pill, saying RU486 was not "the easy and safe form of abortion" painted by its supporters.

Appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources and Conservation on the Opposition frontbench in 2008, she was asked to resign by then Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull when she expressed her support for a motion by the Australian Greens to block the introduction of upfront tax breaks for carbon sinks.

She crossed the floor with four other National senators to vote for the motion.

Married to a farmer and living in the rural NSW town of Young, Nash has a deep interest in foreign investment controls and in supporting Australian primary industry.

In 2010, as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Nash passionately implored the upper house to pass her Youth Allowance Bill, which would help regional students afford a tertiary education.

The Labor Government, including Julia Gillard, argued strongly against it, trying to prevent its introduction into the House of Representatives.

Sussan Ley, MP.Source:News Limited

Sussan Ley - Assistant Minister for Education.

Sussan Ley was born in Nigeria to English parents and spent her early life in the United Arab Emirates, where her father worked for British Intelligence.

She had a sense of adventure and a love of the bush which led her to working as a pilot, air traffic controller, aerial stock musterer and working in shearing sheds as a shed hand and shearer's cook.

After getting married and having a child, she began studying, ending up with three degrees, in economic, taxation and accounting, and three children.

In 2001, she ran unsuccessfully for Liberal preselection in the seat of Indi against Sophie Mirabella.

She won the seat of Farrer, which comprises almost a third of country NSW, in 2001 by 206 votes.

She has held senior positions in a succession of portfolios in the federal Opposition, including Children and Youth Affairs, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Housing, Office of the Status of Women, Customs and Justice, Employment Participation and Childcare and Early Childhood.

A mad rugby league fan, Senator Payne is the most experienced politician in Abbott's outer ministry.

A senator for 16 years, she is also a seasoned Liberal Party member, having joined as an 18-year-old and serving as National Young Liberal Movement's first female President, from 1989 to 1991.

Ms Payne, 49, is the partner of NSW Liberal member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, 32, and the couple lives in Mulgoa in Western Sydney, where Payne is an active and enthusiastic community advocate.

When she is not living and breathing the St George/Illawarra NRL team - she co-launched the Federal Parliament Friends of Rugby League in June - Payne is working to raise money and awareness on the issues of ageing and dementia.

She launched Parliamentary Friends of Dementia after her father died from Alzheimer's disease.

She spends time on a family farm in the NSW Southern Highlands, and is a keen horse owner and racing enthusiast.

In 2010, Payne was appointed Shadow Minister for Indigenous Development and Employment, Shadow Minister for COAG and Shadow Minister for Housing.

She has previously held senior positions in International Development Assistance and Indigenous Affairs.

Payne has served on numerous parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and defence.